Unique treasures found in Notre Dame Cathedral
The Holy Nails and the Crown of Thorns are two of the sacred Christian relics preserved by Notre Dame Cathedral for hundreds of years.
Notre Dame Cathedral, which began construction in 1163 and was completed in 1345, witnessed the coronation of King Henry VI of England in 1431 and Emperor Napoleon in 1804. The cathedral was destroyed in the 16th century by the Huguenots of the Protestant Reformation and used as a food reserve during the French Revolution, then restored in the 19th century.
Notre Dame Cathedral is now home to many artifacts, works of art and relics collected over centuries, each with its own story and value. The fire on April 15th has many people worried that the treasures of Notre Dame Cathedral will be destroyed.
The system of three rose windows with brilliant colors is one of the remarkable highlights of the church. They have been preserved from the 13th century to the present. Each window simulates different images, when the light shines through, it will make the space inside the church more sparkling and magical.
The original large pipe organ in Notre Dame Cathedral dates back to the Middle Ages. Over time, its makers have continuously improved it. However, some of the pipes that produce the sound have remained. The organ has 8,000 pipes, 5 keyboards and 109 keys, making it the largest pipe organ in France.
The numerous sculptures, statues and paintings kept in the Cathedral depict scenes from the Bible and images of saints. They are several hundred years old and are considered priceless works.
The twin towers of Notre Dame Cathedral were the tallest structures in France until the Eiffel Tower was completed in the late 19th century. The North Tower was completed in 1240 and the South Tower in 1250.
The cathedral's main bell, Emanuelle, is located in the South Tower. It has rung at important moments in French history, such as the end of World War II.
The church also preserves a number of artifacts believed to be sacred relics of Christianity such as the Crown of Thorns on Jesus' head (pictured), a piece of the True Cross where Jesus was crucified, and the Holy Nail used to hammer into the cross on which Jesus was executed.
According to Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo, the Crown of Thorns and other important artifacts at Notre Dame Cathedral have been safely protected.
Pictured is the Holy Nail tree kept at Notre Dame Cathedral.
On the exterior structure, statues depicting mystical creatures called gargoyles and chimeras are also a characteristic of Notre Dame Cathedral.
The archaeological vaults are located beneath the churchyard. They were created to preserve 19th-century remains discovered during excavations in 1965. They have been open to the public since 1980.
